Building construction



A. HENDERSON Sept. 20,1921, ,952

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan.9. 1924 s sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A. HENDERSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Sept. 20, 1927.

s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9. 1924 INVENTOR Sept. 20, 1927. A HENDERSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheg 3 25.5,... .QMMHIIIHHN p 27 A. HENDERSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9. 1924 8 s t sh' t 4 INVENTOR Sept. 20, 1927. 1,642,952

A. HENDERSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1924 8 sheets-Sheet 6 Se t. 1

p 927 A. HENDERSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 1,6429'52 Sept. 20, 1927. A. HENDERSON I I BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan.9. 1924 8 s t -sh'eet B INVENTOR Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HENDERSON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE HENDERSON STRUCTURAL UNITS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 9, 1924. Serial No. 685,198.

The present invention relates to building construction, and more particularly to building construction employing reinforced concrete as the construction material.

Reinforced concrete, with its cheap aggregates found practically everywhere, is the logical material for fireproof building convstruction in view of the relatively greater cost and scarcity of other building materials. Progress in the use of this material has been retarded, however, by reason of the costly field form work, lack of standardization and the uncertainties and weaknesses of field made concrete, in conjunction with the shortage and high cost of the skilled construction labor required for this kind of work.

The purpose of the present invention is to providea system of closely related strucural units adapted to be manufactured in centralized factories under technical and Skilled supervision, shipped from such factories to the points of construction and there fabricated into a great variety of structures with a minimum amount of skilled labor and practically a total elimination of field concrete work.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of five different sizes of blocks which are illustrative examples of my system of units;

Figure 2 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly inv section, of the blocks shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a. top plan view, partly broken away, of a slab forming another illustrative example of my system of units;

Figure 4- is a side edge view, partly in section, of the slab shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the slab shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5, but showing a section of a slab of greater thickness;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a building constructed from a system of units embodying my invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line IXIX of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a column having a section composed of two blocks superimposed upon a column having a sec- C1011? complolsed of four blocks;

ignre is a detail sectional i l1ne XIXI of Figure 10; v 8W on the Figure 12 illustrates one way of superimposing a column, the section of which is composed of one block, upon a base, the sectl011 of which is composed of four blocks; Figure 13 1s a view similar to Figure 12 illustratlng another way of superimposin the column upon the base; D

F gure 14 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of constructing a stairway from blocks, the section being taken on l ne XIV-XIV of Figure 7 F gure 15 is a plan view of a column having its sectlon composed of four blocks illustrating a function of the grooves in the oug er surfaces of the blocks;

igure 16 is a sectional View on th XV I XVI of Figure 7; 6 km Figure 17 shows a sectional plan view of a column having its section composed of three blocks;

Figure 13 is a detail View illustrating the manner of olning floor slabs to a beam composed of blocks;

F1gure 19 is a view looking towards the sideof the beam shown in Figure 18;

Figures 20 and 21 are views similar to Figures 18 and 19 but showing a slight modification. Figure 21 being a section on the line XXIXXI of Figure 20;

F igure 22 is a horizontal sectional view through a small building, such as a garage, constructed from blocks and slabs;

Figure 23 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 20;

Figures 24 and 25 are detail views illustrating the manner of joining the wall slabs to a column in a structure such as shown 1n Figures 22 and 23; and

Flgure 26 is a detail view illustrating one way of constructing a hollow wall having its section composed of two slabs.

The basic conception of the present invention is the provision of a limited number of structural units so related in size and structural characteristics as to enable the various elements entering into building construction, such as walls, columns, girders, beams and floors to be readily fabricated therefrom. More specifically, my invention resides, on the one hand, in blocks having holes extending longitudinally through the same for the reception of steel reinforcing rods, the blocks bearing a definite dimension relationship to each other. and preferablv also as regards the location and size of the holes. whereby they are adapted to be put together in a great variety of: com binations, and on the other hand, in slabs bearing a definite dimension relationship to the blocks, whereby the blocks and slabs are adapted to be assembled and united in definite relationship to each other in building construction work.

[n Iiigures 1 and 2, there is shown a series of live blocks, A, B, C, D and E. These blocks are prcfe ably all of the same length and of rectangular form, that is. in the form of a parallelopiped whose six faces are rectangles, and preferably the section of each block taken at right angles to its longitudinal axis is a square. The blocks have 1n their four side faces V-shaped grooves 2 extending )arallel to the longitudinal axes of the blocl s, while bevels 3 are formed at all of the edges of the blocks, each bevel preferably corresponding in width and angularity to one side of a groove. The grooves of each block are spaced uniformly from each other and from the longitudinal edges of the block and the groove spacing is the same in each of the blocks. If the distance between the center lines of two adjacent grooves in a block face is m, it will be apparent that the width of the face of each block shown is a multiple of w and that each block varies in Width from the next smaller or larger block of the series by this unit measurement :0 but each block may vary in width from the next smaller or larger block by a multiple of this unit measurement and the groove spacing ma be either equal to {a or a multiple of a:. the distance :0 is assumed to be 2", then the five blocks shown would respectively have cross-sectional areas equal to 4 x 4", 6 x 6", 8 x 8", 10" x 10 and 12" x 12". While such dimensions are entirely arbitrary, I have found that five blocks having such lateral measurements and each a length of 12 form a verydesirable series from a practical standpoint. When such blocks are formed into dense concrete units under high eou'lpression and provided with holes extending longitudinally through the same for the reception of steel reinforcing rods, as will be hereinafter described, the largest size, namely, 12 X 12 X 12", has a Weight of approximately 100 pounds, so that it can be conveniently handled by a Workman.

Each of=the blocks has a plurality of holes 4 extending longitudinally therethrough. It is contemplated that every block, regardless of its cross-sectional area, will have four such holes located adjacent the four corners of the block, and preferably each block will have a solid central core, although, in some instances, it may be additional holes being located opposite the middle points of the four sides of the blocks.

The *provision of through holes in the blocks enables a plurality of blocks of the same size to be assembled end to end and steel reinforcing rods to be placed in the aligned holes and the blocks bonded together into a monolithic mass by grout in troduced by gravity or under pressure into the voids around the rods. Blocks differing in size may also be bonded together in this manner, because the holes in one size of block are so related to those in the next smaller or larger size of block as to location and size that when two blocks of consecutive sizes are placed one on top of the other, the holes in one block partially register with the similarly located holes n the other block.

The end faces of the blocks are preferably provided with recesses or grooves conneeting the holes and leaving each block with a marginal bearing surface 5 at each end thereof. The smaller block A is shown as having a central recess 6 in each of its end faces which includes the holes 4 within its outline, while the blocks B and C have grooves? in their end faces defining a central bearing surface 8 flush with the mar ginal bearing surface 5. The blocks 1) and E have grooves 7 in their end faces and in addition have cross grooves 9 therein defining four bearing surfaces 10 flush with the marginal bearing surface 5. \Vhen a plurality of blocks are arranged end to end and bonded together into a monolithic mass in the manner previously described, the grout not only fills the through holes around the reinforcing rods, but also fills the recesses or grooves in the end faces of the blocks and thus greatly assists in resisting shear and torsion. These recesses or grooves also serve to accommodate stirrups, dowels, ties, bolts, transverse reinforcing steel, etc.

The through holes in the blocks should be so proportioned as to hold a sufficient amount of grout to thoroughly embed the reinforcing rods and to allow for the partial registration of corresponding holes of blocks of successive sizes, as previously explained. On the other hand, in order to produoe dense units having a maximum compressive value and keep the amount of field poured grout low, the total voids in a block should not exceed. about 28% of the total volume of the block. \Vhen this percent- It will be noted that of the five age of voidsis exceeded, an excess of grout is used over that required to firmly embed and bond the reinforcing rods to the mass of the blocks, and this excess amount of grout displaces a corresponding amount of pre-cast concrete in the mass of blocks. This is undesirable, as an object of the invention is to keep the amount of field-poured material a low as possible.

A slab of suitable form and construction for cooperation with the blocks is shown in Figures 3 and 4. This slab has a body portion of substantially uniform thickness except. at its edge portions, where the slab preferably has a continuous downwardly extending flange 11. Any desired amount of reinforcing steel 12 may be embedded in the body portion of the slab to suit the live load factors and additional reinforcing steel 13 may be embedded in the flange 11. A continuous groove 14 is formed in the edge faces of the slab for the reception of grout, and also of reinforcing steel when necessary. it has been pointed out that the blocks will preferably all be of the same length irrespective of their variation in cross-sectional area, such length being a multiple of the unit measurement. The slabs will have a width which is equal to the length of the blocks, or a multiple of such length, and a length which will preferably be an exact multiple of the length of the blocks. Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the slab shown in Figures 3 and 4, this slab with its flange preferably having a thickness at its edges corresponding to the width of the smallest block A, while Figure 6 shows a cross section of a block having a thickness corresponding to the width of block B. However, the slabs may have a thickness at their edges equal to .1. or any multiple of :20. Thus the relation between the slabs and blocks in my system of units is preferably such that the slabs have a width which is equal to, or a multiple of, the length of the blocks and a length which is preferably a multiple of the length of the blocks and a thickness at their edges which may vary from a: to any multiple of a. From a practical standpoint, five blocks having the preferred dimensions already given, and two slabs having a width of 12", a length of 5 and an edge thickness of 4" and (5", respectively, will meet all usual requirements. The slabs may, if desired, be provided in their upper surfaces with V- shaped grooves 15 and with bevels 16 at their edges, as shown in Figure 5, the grooves being spaced from each other and from the longitudinal edges of the slabs the unit distance Figures 7 and 8 are illustrative of the manner in which a system of structural units of the character described may be employed for the construction of a building. This building may have its columns, girders and beams built up of concrete blocks with steel reinforcing rods running through the the same and with grout filling the spaces about the rods and filling the grooves and recesses in the end faces of the blocks.

The porch column 17 shown in Figure 7 illustrates the manner in which different sizes of blocks may be employed in column construction. Referring to Figure 9, which is a sectional view of a portion of the column 17, it will be seen that the three superimposed blocks 18, 19 and 20 while differing from each other in width, have the corresponding through holes of successive blocks in partial registration, so that continuous steel reinforcing rods 21 may be inserted through these partially registering holes, and the latter filled with grout to unite the blocks of the column into a reinforced monolithic mass.

The column 22 between the ground floor and the first floor of the building may have its section composed of four blocks 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the same size, as illustrated in Figure 10. Steel reinforcing rods 27 may be inserted through the aligned through holes in the superin'iposed blocks in the four sections of the column and at every horizontal joint in the column a reinforcing tie rod or frame 28 may be inserted in the grooves in the end faces of the blocks: (Figure 11) in order to tie the four sections of the column together at the joints.

The column 29 between the second and third floors may have its section composed of two blocks of the same size as the blocks in the column 22, and the column 29 may be superimposed upon the column 22, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. This calls for an explanation of a preferred relation between the through holes in the same block. The holes in each block will preferably be so located that the distance between centers of adjacent corner holes and also the distance between centers of opposite intermedi ate holes will be approximately equal to one half the width of the block. Therefore, when the column 29 is superimposed upon the column 22 in the manner illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the holes in the blocks of the column 29 will be in partial registration with certain of the holes in the blocks of the column 22. Some of the rods 27 in the column 22 may, therefore, extend through the column 29, as is clearly illustrated.

By reason of this ratio of the distance between the holes of a block to the width of a block, when a column having its section composed of only one block is superimposed upon a base or column having its section composed of four blocks of the same size as the blocks of the superimposed column, in the manner illustrated in Figure 13, the corner holes of the blocks of the superim- -&

posed column will partially register with the inner corner holes of the base column, so that the two columns may be tied together by continuous reinforcing rods 30.

Figure 12 illustrates another way in which a column having its section composed of one block may be superimposed upon a base or column having its section composed of four blocks. It has been pointed out that the distance between the centers of two opposite intermediate holes in a block is approximately equal to one half the wldth of the block. While the distance between the centers of two adjacent intermediate holes in a block is slightly less than the dislance between the centers of two opposite intermediate holes, yet the distance between the centers of two adjacent intermediate holes is approximately equal to one half the width of the block. Therefore, in the arrangement shown in Figure 12, the intermediate holes 31 in the blocks of the superimposed column will partially register with the inner corner holes of the base column, so that the two columns may be tied together by continuous reinforcing rods 32.

Figure 17 illustrate the manner in which a column having its section composed of three blocks 33, 34 and 35 of the same size may be constructed. By reason of the fact that the distance between the corner holes of a block is approximately equal to one half the width of the block, it follows that the grooves in the end face of the block 33 will at least partially register with the grooves in the end faces of the blocks 34 and 35 so that at the horizontal joints in the column the two blocks 34 and 35 may be tied together by a tie frame 36, and the block 33 may be tied to the blocks 34 and 35 by a tie frame 37, these tie frames being inserted in the grooves in the end faces of the blocks and in chipped out notches in the marginal bearing surfaces 5 of the blocks, the said tie frames engaging about the vertical reinforcing rods 38.

Figure 14 illustrates another relation be-,

tween the location of the holes in one size of blocks and the location of the holes in the next larger size of blocks. In this figure, 39 represents the stringer of a stairway construction, such as is illustrated in Fig ure 7 and designated by reference character 40. This stringer may be formed of blocks placed end to end and having tie rods 41 extending through the aligning holes in the same. These blocks may be of the size represented by the block D in Figure 1,' and may arbitrarily be assumed to have a cross-sectional area equal to x 10".

The steps may be formed of blocks placed end to end and having reinforcing rods 42 extending through thediagonally opposite corner holes 43 in the same. These blocks may be of the size represented by the block C in Figure 1 and may arbitrarily be assumed to have a cross section area equal to 8" x 8". The distance between the centers of diagonally opposite corner holes in these smaller blocks is approximately equal to the distance between the centers of adjacent corner holes of the larger blocks in the stringer, so that the transverse reinforcing rods 42 of the steps may have their ends extended between the end faces of the blocks of the stringers and tied to the reinforcing rods 41, notches being chipped out in the marginal bearing surfaces of the blocks of the stringers to permit the ends of the rods 42 to be extended into the grooves in the meeting end faces of said blocks. Thus, when the. stringers and steps are bonded together into monolithic elements by grout embedding the reinforcing rods and filling the grooves and recesses in the end faces of the blocks, the reinforcing rods will bind the steps and stringers together into a solid reinforced structure. \Vhere the end faces of the steps meet the side faces of the stringers, grout will [ill the grooves in the end faces of the steps andfurther bond the concrcte mass of the steps to the concrete mass of the stringers.

The grooves in the outer faces of the blocks and the beveled edges thereof form an indented pattern on each of such faces, a function of which is to give the structure into which the blocks may be fabricated an ormm'iental appearance. These grooves and beveled edges also have a mechanical function. Figures and 16 illustrate the manner in which such grooves and beveled edges answer to both functions. Referring first to Figure 15, the coinciding grooves between meeting faces of the blocks form vertical holes which may be filled with grout to aid in bonding the four vertical sections of the column into a single monolithic mass.

It will be noted that the four vertical beveled edges of the blocks at their inner corners coincide to form a vertical hole corresponding to a vertical hole formed by two coinciding grooves. The horizontal beveled edges of the blocks coincide when one course of blocks is superimposed upon another to form horizontal passages which will be filled by the grout introduced into the vertical holes formed by the coinciding vertical grooves. The grooves and beveled edges on the exterior faces of the column give the column an ornamental appearance, it being noted that when two beveled edges coincide they form a groove similar to the intermediate face grooves in a block.

Figure 16 is a sectional View through the coping of the building shown in Figure 7. This figure illustrates how different sizes of blocks may be assembled to give a panel effect. The coinciding grooves in the meeting faces of the blocks form vertical holes which may be filled with grout to aid in bonding the blocks together and the grooves and beveled edges in the exterior faces of the blocks produce an. ornamental effect.

Since each block of the series of blocks varies in width from the next smaller or larger block of the series by the unit measurement m, or a multiple thereof, the combined width of a plurality of blocks of one size when placed side by side will equal the combined width of a lesser number of blocks of a larger size. This is an important relation between the sizes of the different blocks of the series and has many practical applications. to have the arbitrarily chosen cross-sectional areas previously mentioned, if it is desired that the girder 44 of the building shown in Figures 7 and 8 have a width of 24 and a depth of 32", this can be accomplished by composing the section of the girder of four 12 x 12 blocks and three 8 x 8" blocks in the manner shown. Again, if it is desired that the three floor beams 45, 46 and 47 shown in Figure 7 have a width of 8" and a depth of 12",

this can be accomplished by composing the section of each beam of one 8" x 8 block and two 4 x 4" blocks.

In Figures 7 and 8 the upper floors of the building are shown as constructed of slabs supported at, their ends upon beams. These beams are connected to girders, preferably by having the reinforcing rods in a beam extend between meeting end faces of blocks in a girder, or vice versa, half blocks 62 being employed in the grider at the point of connection of the beam therewith, and also, if desired, at a point intermediate two beams. This method of connecting beams and griders will usually result in beams being so spaced apart that the distance between the centers of two adjacent beams will be equal to an exact multiple of the length of the blocks composing the beams and girders. 46 are shown as having the distance between their centers equal to the length of fiveblocks. Assuming the blocks to have a length of 12", the distance between the centers of the two beams is 5. This is merely an illustration of an advantage of having the length of the slabs equal to an exact multiple of the length of the blocks.

The reason for having the width of the slabs exactly equal to, or a multipleof, the length of the blocks will be apparent from a consideration of Figures 18 to 26 inclusive. Figures 18 and 19 illustrate the manner in which floor slabs may be united to a beam composed of blocks when the slabs are of the same width a the length of the blocks. In constructing the beam, a metal stirrup 48 may be inserted in the coinciding grooves in the meeting end faces of the For example, assuming the blocks For example, the two beams 45 and blocks of the beam at each joint therein and in chipped out notches 5' in the marginal bearing surfaces 5 of the blocks. These stirrups will be firmly embedded in the grout filling such grooves and notches and will each have a portion projecting above the beam. \Vhen the slabs are placed on the beam the coinciding grooves in the meeting end faces of two rows of slabs will form a continuous passage 49 extending longitudinally of the beam. The coinciding grooves in the meeting side faces of the slabs will form passages 50 extending at right angles to the axis of the beam. The passages 50 will directly overlie the joints between the blocks of the beam, so that the upwardly projecting portions of the stirrups 48 will lie in said passages. A reinforcing rod 51 may be inserted in the passage 49 to engage beneath the upper end portions of the stirrups and grout may be introduced through chipped out openings 52 in the slabs to fill the passages 49 and 50 and surround and embed the reinforcing rods 51 and the upwardly projecting portions of the stirrups. This grout will also fill auxiliary grooves 53 which intersect'the grooves in the edgesof the slabs and accommodate portions of the stirrups. As soon as the grout has had suflicient time to set and harden, the slabs and beam will have become united into an integral mass, so that the slabs can be figured in compression with the beam. Thus the beam and the slabs will be thoroughly reinforced and bonded together so that they will act together in resisting compressive stresses after the manner of a T-beam construction.

The construction shown in Figures 20 and 21 differs from that shown in Figures 18 and 19 in that the beam is composed of blocks having a length equal to one-half the width of the floor slabs. In this modified construction, the passages 50 in the meeting side faces of the slabs directly overlie alternate joints in the beam and the slabs may betied to the beam by stirrups 48 and a cooperating reinforcing rod 51 in the same manner as in the construction shown in Figures 18 and 19. At each intermediate joint in the beam, a tie-frame 48 may be inserted in the coinciding grooves in the meeting end faces of the two abutting blocks and embedded in grout filling such grooves. Obviously the width of the slabs might be made to equal three or four, or any number of, times the length of the blocks, but as previously stated, I prefer to have the width of the slabs correspond to the length of the blocks.

The small building shown in Figures 22 and 23 has its walls constructed of slabs arranged with their longitudinal axes horizontal and united to vertical columns constructed of blocks. The grooves in the meeting side faces of the slabs form horizontal passages 54 in which reinforcing rods may be placed (Figures 2+1 and 25). Since, in the construction shown, the width of the slabs is the same as the length 0 the blocks in the columns, the slabs may be tied to the columns by means of bolts 56 inserted between the meeting end faces of the blocks of the columns and each having an eye 57 through which a rod extends, notches 5' being chipped out in'the marginal bearing surfaces 5 of the blocks and similar notches being chipped out in the edges of the slabs to accommodate the bolts. Of course, the passages 54 willbe filled with grout to surroundand firmly embed the rods 55 and the bolts 56 will also be embedded in this grout and in the grout between the meeting end faces of the blocks of the columns. It will be apparent that the slabs could be tied to the columns in exactly the same manner if the width of the slabs was a multiple of the length of the blocks instead of being exactly equal thereto.

Figure 26 is still another illustrative exam le of the advantages of having the wit th of the slabs equal to or a multiple of the length of the blocks. This figure shows one way in which a hollow wall may be constructed by having its section composed of two slabs placed with their hottoms facing each other, whereby air cells 58 are formed in the wall. The slabs may be united to columns composed of blocks whose length is equal to, or an exact divisor of, the width of the slabs, by placing reinforcing rods 59 in the longitudinal passages formed by the coinciding grooves in the meeting side faces of the slabs and extending these rods between meeting end faces of the blocks and the columns. These reinforcing rods will be embedded in grout filling such passages and the grooves and recesses in the meeting end faces of the blocks of the columns as well as the chipped out notches 5 in the marginal bearing surfaces 5 of the blocks. Figure 26 also illus trates the advantage of having the thickness of the slabs equal to m, or a multiple of If the thickness of the slabs shown in this figure is assumed to be 230, then the thickness of the wall is 4:2: and the column may be composed of blocks having a width equal to 40:.

WVhilc it is more important that the width of the slabs be exactly equal to, or a multiple of, the length of the blocks, and preferable that the length of the slabs be an exact multiple of the length of the blocks, advantages also arise from having the thickness of the slabs correspond to the width of certain of the blocks of the series. For example, in Figure 7 filler blocks 60 are shown, the upper surfaces of these blocks being flush with the upper surfaces of the f walls of the building.

adjoining slabs. In Figure 22 the columns 61 at the corners of the building are constructed of blocks having a width equal to the thickness of the slabs composing the The outer surfaces of the columns are, therefore, flush with the outer surfaces of the walls, which is obviously desirable.

The foregoing description does not comprehend all of the many possible ways of utilizing a system of structural units of the character described in building construction work, but it is sulficient to demonstrate its elasticity and adaptability. Among the advantages of a system of this kind when applied to concrete building construction work may be mentioned that it' 1. *liminates field form work and ordinary concrete and aggregate handling plants.

2. Makes possible the use of high compression dense precast units of uniform quality.

3. insures the exact placing of the reinforcing steel and enables the same to be cheaply installed.

4. inimizes labor and skill required in construction work and expedites erection, thereby insuring economy by reducing time of completing work.

5. Permits of reasonably exact engineering results and tends to standardize building construction work.

6. Makes possible quantity production of standardized units in centralized factories.

'While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto nor to the particular number and form of the units shown, as it may be otherwise embodied withln the scope of the appended claims. The several factories recited may also be employed separately or combined.

1 claim:

1. In building construction, an element composed of blocks of different cross-sectional areas arranged end to end, each of said blocks having holes extending longitudinally therethrough and arranged between the center and outer surfaces of the block, the holes of each block at least partially registering with those of the next smaller or larger block in said element, and continuous reinforcing members extending through said holes, substantially as described.

2. In building construction, an element composed of blocks of different cross-sectional areas arranged end to end, each of said blocks having holes extending longitudinall therethrough and arranged between t e center and outer surfaces of the block, the holes of each block at least partially registering with those of the next smaller or larger block in said element, and

continuous reinforcing members extending through said holes, said reinforcing members being embedded in grout filling said holes, substantially as described.

3. As a manufacture a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of blocks of varying widths. each of said blocks having holes extending therethrough to accommodate reinforcing means, the holes being so disposed that when one block is placed end to end with a block of another size and with the faces of the two blocks substantially flush, the holes register at least in part, whereby reinforcing rods may be passed through the series of blocks. substantially as described.

4. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of blocks of varying widths and related to one another in an arithmetical ratio whose lowest terms are 2, 3. 4, each of said blocks having holes extending longitudinally therethrough to accommodate reinforcing rods, the holes being so disposed that when one block is placed end to end with a block of the next size and with the faces of the two blocks substantially flush, the holes register at least in part. whereby reinforcing rods may be passed through the series of blocks, substantially as described.

5. As a manufacture, .a set of structural units. said units comprising a series of blocks of varying sizes. each of said blocks having holes extending longitudinally therethrough to accommodate reinforcing rods, and each of said blocks having end recesses to accommodate grout, the holes being so disposed that when one block is placed end to end with a block of another size and with the faces of the two blocks substantially flush, the holes register at least in part, whereby reinforcing rods may be passed through the-structure, and the end recesses being so disposed that when the blocks are placed together in such manner, the end recesses register at least in part. substantially as described.

6. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of rec, tangular bloc-ks adapted to be used with one another in a structure and being of different widths which are varying multiples of a unit measurement, each block having holes therethrough for accommodating reinforcing rods, the holes being arranged on the diagonals of the blocks, and a hole in certain of the blocks being extended along the diagonals a sutlicient distance to cause such hole to register at least in part with a hole in a block of the next smaller size, substantially as described.

7. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of rectangular blocks whose widths are varying multiples of a unit measurement, each block smaller size when the blocks are placed end to end and with their faces substantially flush, the blocks having end recesses also adapted to register at least in part, substantially as described.

8. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of at least three rectangular blocks adapted to be used with one another in a structure and whose widths varyin arithmetical progression, each block having holes therethrough for accommodating reinforcing rods, a hole in one block registering at least in part with a hole in a block of the next size, substantially as described.

9. In a building construction, an elementcomposed of blocks of substantially the same length arranged end to end and tied together by reinforcing means extending therethrough, and slabs adjacent the blocks, the slabs being arranged side by side and having a width which is equal to or a multiple of the length of the blocks, the line of junction of adjacent slabs substantially corresponding with the line of junction of adjacent blocks, and reinforcing means tying the slabs and the blocks together at such line of junction, substantially as described.

10. In a building construction, an element composed of blocks of substantially the same length arranged end to end and tied together by reinforcing means extending therethrough, at least one of the blocks having an end recess forming a cavity adjacent the junction of the blocks, slabs arranged side by side and having a width which is equal to or a multiple of the length of the blocks, the slabs being so arranged that the line of junction of adjacent slabs substantially corresponds with the line of junction of adjacent blocks, at least one of such adjacent slabs having a groove therein to form a cavity adjacent such line of junction, and means extending into said cavity for tying the slabs and blocks together, substantially as described.

11. In a building construction, a plurality of blocks of substantially the same length arranged end to end and tied together by reinforcing means extending therethrough, slabs arranged side by side and having a width which is equal to or a multiple of the length of the blocks, the line of junction of adjacent slabs substantially corresponding with the line of junction of adjacent blocks, and reinforcing means connecting the slabs and the blocks at such line of junction, the reinforcing means extending around the first-mentioned reinforcing means for the blocks, substantially as described.

12. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising blocks of substantially equal length adapted to be placed end to end to form a structure, the blocks having openings therethrough registeringat least in part and adapted to receive reinforcing rods, the blocks also having end cavities, and a plurality of slabs having a width which is equal to or a multiple of the length of the blocks, the slabs each having side recesses adapted to cooperate with the end recesses of the blocks to accommodate tying means for connecting the slabs and the blocks when they are placed together, substantially as described.

13. As a manufacture, a set of structural units, said units comprising a series of blocks whose width are a multiple of a unit measurement and which are of substantially equal lengths, the blocks having end recesses and slabs whose thickness is such unit measurement or a multiple thereof and whose widths are substantially equal to the length of the blocks or a multiple thereof, the slabs having recesses adapted to cooperate with the end recesses of the blocks when adjacent slabs are placed in such relation with adjacent blocks that the line of junction of the slabs substantially coincides with the line of junction of the blocks to form a recess for receivin tying means to unite the slabs and the bloc 's, substantially as described.

14. As a manufacture, a. set of structural units, said units comprising a series of blocks whose widths are a multiple of a unit measurement and which are of substantially equal lengths, the blocks having end recesses, and slabs whose thickness is such unit measurement or a multiple thereof and whose widths are substantially equal to the length of the blocks or a multiple thereof, the slabs having recesses adapted to cooperate with the end recesses of the blocks when adjacent slabs are placed in such relation with adjacent blocks that the line of junction of the slabs substantially coincides with the line of junction of the blocks to form a recess for receiving tying means to unite the slabs and the blocks, the blocks having holes extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving reinforcing means to tie the blocks together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. ALBERT HENDERSON. 

